Parental Recognition and Perception of Commercially Available Foods and Beverages Containing Non‐nutritive Sweeteners

Abstract

ObjectiveOur study aimed to examine parental attitudes toward providing NNS containing items to their children and to explore parental ability to recognize NNS in packaged foods and beverages.Methods120 parents (≥ 18 years old) of children (≥1 year old) completed brief questionnaires upon entering or exiting a local grocery store. Grocery selection and NNS recognition were assessed using a 142 item grocery shopping simulation activity. Demographic information and parental attitudes toward NNS were assessed using an interviewer‐assisted survey.ResultsA factor analysis generated 3 subscales of from the NNS attitude questionnaire; nutrition and health awareness (NHA), NNS acceptance (NNS‐ACCEPT), and child sweet liking (SL). Overall our findings demonstrated that the majority of parents (72.3%) did not believe that NNS were safe to provide to their children, yet overall ability to recognize NNS was low (mean percentage of items correctly = 22.9%). Accurate parental identification of NNS containing foods and beverages was associated with heightened negative attitudes towards provision of NNS to their children.ConclusionFuture well‐designed studies must be conducted to assess the short‐ and long‐term metabolic effects of NNS in order to formulate conclusive recommendations promoting the use or avoidance of NNS. Nutrition education promoting ingredient list and nutrition facts panel comprehension, as well as food claim literacy is required to reduce misguided nutrition beliefs among parents.